Tuesday, January 28, 2014

We have an almost 5 year old grand daughter who we spend a lot of time with. When she is here visiting, we try to keep her up and moving. While in our home, she can't sit around and play videos games and watch TV all day long. I think that is a LOT of the reason why kids these days are overweight!

As parents and grandparents it is our job to get them up off the sofa and engaging in some type of physical activity. There are many things you can do to get your kids physically fit and today I wanted to share these tips with all of you from trainer Chris Powell. They are all tips that we can help our children do!

Kids, we know it may seem more fun to live a lazy life of pizza, TV and fuzzy slippers like Reggie from FREE BIRDS, but if you want to be big and strong like Jake, it’s going to take work! That why we asked trainer and host of ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition,” Chris Powell, to share some tips to help you get moving and eat things that will keep you healthy. If you follow his plan, pretty soon you’ll have pecs and glutes as impressive as Jake’s!

Tip #1: Eat Breakfast. Mom is right, it really IS the most important meal of the day! Eat something hearty that’s going to give you a lot of energy, like eggs and toast, or yogurt and granola. Start the day strong!

Tip#2: Get to school at least 15 minutes early for recess. Run, jump, climb, and play your favorite sports. You’ll get some extra time with your friends, you’ll get stronger and faster, and you’ll supercharge your body and mind for learning!

Tip #3: Eat fruit every chance you get! Fruit is nature’s dessert, and comes in all kinds of fun flavors. You can never go wrong with classics like apples, oranges, bananas, pears, grapes and pineapple. But also try exploring new and crazy fruits, like starfruit or kiwi, grapples or mangoes!

Tip#4: Cut the soda. Any way you look at it, it’s just not good for you! If you crave sweet beverages, try naturally sweetened waters! There are all kinds of new flavorings for water coming out with natural sweeteners like stevia and monk fruit – find one that you love, and hydrate!

Tip #5: Be a lean and mean gamer. When you’re done with your homework, instead of vegging out on the couch with your PS4 or Xbox 1, get up and try playing one of their MANY active games. Get off the couch and LIVE the game! Run, jump, balance, shoot…get involved in your video games and get fit in the process.

Enjoy the hit family comedy FREE BIRDS, and see Jake’s impressive physique in action, when it hits Blu-ray and DVD on February 4th, 2014.

Sunday, January 26, 2014

My mother is a huge fan of the classic old-time movies and one of her favorite actors of all time is Charlton Heston. Now grant ya, I know who the actor was...but since I am from another generation, I am personally not a fan.

With that said, my mother and great aunt are huge fans so when this movie is released onto Blu-ray DVD on March 4th, 2014...I am going to pick up a copy for them to watch together. I know they will both be excited to receive it!

Here is some information on the upcoming DVD release!

The Agony and the Ecstasy: Now, for the first time, the acclaimed epic starring Oscar® Winners Charlton Heston* and Rex Harrison** is available on Blu-ray! Despite the grueling physical demands involved, renowned Renaissance artist Michelangelo (Heston) spends more than four years creating the Sistine Chapel’s spectacular ceiling fresco. All the while, he questions his own religious views and battles with the man who commissioned him, Pope Julius II (Harrison).

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is the industry leading worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox produced, acquired and third party partner film and television programming. Each year TCFHE expands its award-winning global product portfolio with the introduction of new entertainment content through established and emerging formats including DVD, Blu-ray™ and Digital HD™. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is a subsidiary of 21st Century Fox.

Disclaimer: I am a member of the Fox Home Entertainment Insiders Club. This information was provided to me free of charge to share with my blog readers. I was not compensated in any way for this post. It is for informational purposes only.

Friday, January 24, 2014

During the hot summer months when I don't want to heat up my house using the oven I turn to no-bake recipes just like this one. We like to make these fruit bars and take them with us when we go out hiking or in the car on road trips.

For variety...you can also toss in 3 to 4 tablespoons of sunflower seeds to bump up the protein and taste.

Chop fruit and nuts and set aside. In a large bowl combine the chopped fruit & nuts with the powdered milk and graham cracker (or) cookie crumbs. Pour in the molasses and stir with a wooden spoon until everything is coated.

Spray your hands with nonstick cooking spray and then form the batter into 1" diameter logs. Place them in a glass baking dish, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 to 45 minutes. Remove and slice into 1" by 1" bars. Toss several into a snack size bag for portion control snacking. They can be stored at room temperature.

Friday, January 17, 2014

January is National Citrus Month, so why not create some citrus recipes featuring oranges? In addition to being delicious, did you know that Oranges contain all the vitamin C your body needs for the day? On average, an orange is only 62 calories and contain no saturated fats or cholesterol, which makes them the perfect snack this month.

This particular cocktail is made using g Orange Mango Sparkling ICE; a zero calorie naturally flavored sparkling water with vitamins and healthy antioxidants. The recipe is courtesy of our friends over at Sparkling ICE who asked us to share the recipe with all of you. I think this cocktail looks delicious and it would be perfect for our little party & get-together next weekend. I think I will whip up a few!

Monday, January 13, 2014

About 8 months ago I had a total hip replacement of my right hip. Learning that I needed a hip replacement came at a total shock 4 months earlier. Leading up to my surgery, I did everything that I could to get healthier so that I would have a better surgical outcome.

The first two months following surgery were extremely hard, especially the first three weeks. Those first few weeks I was in god-awful pain to the point I just wanted to die. At the time that I was screaming and yelling in pain, we didn't know that I had a torn knee from the hip replacement surgery. All of that tugging, pulling and twisting to get the old hip out and the new hip in...caused my knee to tear.

Once the third month rolled around the pain got better. I quit physical therapy which was making the hip and knee pain worse. Totally worse! Once I quit, I did my own therapy at home and got busy taking walks with my outdoor mommy walking group. We started out slow and then increased our distance and pace as the weeks went along.

At the six months post-op mark I was finally able to sit on the floor again and get up with some assistance. I was also able to bend down and pick things up off the floor. Furthermore, it took an entire six months before I could sleep on my right side again without having any pain. Finally, I was getting some decent sleep again.

It has now been eight months since I had my hip replacement surgery. The limp that I had immediately after surgery is getting better. I walk with no limp for about 20 minutes or so and then the limp kicks in again. I am not happy about that. I still can not get myself up off the floor by myself without assistance and I have to be careful on how I bend or twist my hip. If I do it the wrong way, the pain immediately shoots down my leg and up my right side of my back.

While things are not perfect, they are getting better. I am recovering a lot slower than most people due to my other health problems, Porphyria. With that said, I am determined to improve even more and once the winter weather breaks, I will get back outside to walk and do some light, short distance hiking.

A total hip replacement at age 45 is not fun and it certainly is not easy. Anyone who tells you that it is easy and that you will feel better immediately is a liar. It is a recovery process and for some...it can be a LONG recovery process.

I will update you all again on my progress once I hit one year post-recovery. To Your Health!

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

January is National Citrus Month, so why not create some citrus cocktails featuring oranges? In addition to being delicious, did you know that Oranges contain all the vitamin C your body needs for the day? On average, an orange is only 62 calories and contain no saturated fats or cholesterol, which makes them the perfect healthy snack this month.

We love orange here in our home and I always keep them on hand! They are great for snacking, baking, using the juice for marinating meats, drinking fresh juice and you can use them to make delicious cocktail drinks like this orange mango martini.

The great folks over at Sparkling ICE sent over this recipe for me to share with all of you. It looks delicious and the weekend is just around the corner!

Friday, January 3, 2014

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Carton Smart. All opinions are 100% mine.

How many of you are big fans of canned goods? For me personally, I rarely used them! I prefer to purchase items like that in cartons or glass jars. I try to avoid metal cans and plastic food containers as much as possible. Just because I don't purchase products in containers like that, doesn't mean we don't enjoy the contents that usually come in them.

A couple of years ago I educated myself and switched over to food packaged in cartons. For those of you who are new to this concept, let me give you some information today on how you can Become Carton Smart too!

Becoming carton smart is an eco-friendly decision (cans are not biodegradable) and in my personal opinion, foods in cartons are healthier for us. We just don't know for sure what leeches into our foods via metal cans and/or plastic containers. These days you can find foods packaged in shelf stable cartons aka Tetra Paks and they taste delicious and fresh.

Here are some of the reasons why I personally use them for feeding myself and my family!

• Tetra Pak® cartons are made of 70% paper, a renewable resource, from selectively harvested, re-grown trees that are FSC-certified (Forest Stewardship Council).
• Cartons use 1/3 of the packaging compared to cans.
• Cartons are space saving, easy to store and open. Keep your pantry neat and toss your can openers.
• The unique packaging process preserves the flavor and nutrients of food without the use of preservatives.
• Recycleable and in fact result in 60% less landfill waste than cans
• Cartons are re-closable so you can use what you need and save the rest for later.

Plus, I find that foods packaged in cartons have no funky after-tastes like foods that are packaged in metal cans and I can crush down those cartons which saves me on my trash bill. You can learn more about this topic by reading & checking out the below infographic which is a real eye-opener!

I received a kit from Pacific Foods to try out for all of you. I got a carton of Pacific Foods Chicken Stock, a carton of Pacific Foods Pumpkin Puree and a carton of Pacific Foods Cranberry Sauce. The perfect ingredients to make a holiday meal or an everyday meal to feed your family.

I used the carton of Pacific Foods Pumpkin Puree to whip up an old family favorite. During this time of the year I like to make a homemade baked pumpkin pudding in the oven and then once done & cooled we top it with a big spoonful of frozen whipped topping. It is absolutely delicious and very easy to make.

Just last week my husband wasn't feeling too well and had a case of the flu. I decided to whip up some homemade old-fashion chicken and rice soup with the carton of Pacific Foods Chicken Stock. I love how easy that chicken stock is to use and it doesn't have a salty taste. It tastes like freshly cooked chicken stock and save me a lot of time when preparing homemade chicken soups and stews.

On New Year's Day I made a special holiday meal and used the carton of Pacific Foods Cranberry Sauce as a treat during our meal. My daughter loves plain cranberry sauce but my husband loves to top it with some whipped cream. Cranberry sauce is really versatile and you can even use it as a marinade for meats, poultry and/or fish. Yummy!

You can be Carton Smart and ditch all of those foods you buy in traditional metal cans and plastic containers! It is better for our environment and in my opinion, better for our health. You can learn more about this topic by Follow #CartonSmart on Pinterest and by joining them at Tweet @CartonSmart. Make sure you Tweet at them because they love hearing your ideas too!

Now that I told you my thoughts on this subject and how I used my Carton Smart products, I would love to hear from you on this topic. Have you made the switch?